A boxer's destiny

Angel Osuna writes his name and the date as part of a morning ritual to help him regain his memory. He can’t remember any of his professional fights in the past seven years. He also suffers from short-term memory loss.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

COACHELLA – Angel Osuna takes a black dry-erase marker and presses it gently against a small whiteboard.

He slowly writes out the date.

Lunes, 5 de Mayo.

Monday, May 5.

A sentence below reads "Tengo 26 años."

"I am 26 years old."

Once he completes that task, Osuna grabs his homework — a manila folder filled with elementary-level math and grammar worksheets in Spanish.

Some worksheets require Osuna to group a list of basic words into categories. Others ask him to identify images of everyday items. A turtle. A heart. An iron.

The routine hasn't changed since he came home from the hospital.

That he came home at all is miraculous.

He wasn't supposed to live.

A professional boxer with a promising future, Osuna is recovering from a severe brain injury after a knockout at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino that put him in a coma for two weeks.

He still has the same slender frame, the same handsome face.

But now a winding scar wraps around the left side of his head. He's lost his peripheral vision.

"Things happen for a reason," Osuna said. "It was my destiny for the fight to end the way it did. It was my destiny not to box anymore."

52 seconds from the end

It was Friday the 13th.

About 1,300 rowdy fans crowded into the rows of chairs and the bleachers at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino at 5 p.m. A blend of hip-hop songs and Mexican rancheras blared in the background.

Though the bout wasn't a headliner, it was a big draw for the local community.

As a talented fighter trained at the Coachella Boxing Club under boxing godfather Lee Espinoza, Osuna had garnered a lot of attention.

With 16 professional matches under his belt and remarkable defensive skills, bets were on Osuna.

Victory over Centeno would land him a coveted contract with Golden Boy Promotions, one of the largest boxing promotion companies in the world.

About 200 friends, family and community members proudly wearing blood-red T-shirts reading "Team Osuna" cheered from a corner of the special events center.

Osuna dominated the match, delivering blow after blow. Though he was notably tired in the last few rounds, Osuna managed to knock Centeno down in the seventh round.

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo Osuna lands a left hook early in the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo Osuna lands a lead straight right early in the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo Osuna starts to feel confident even eyeing his opponent at the end of a round as referee Raul Caiz Jr. steps in. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo Osuna starts to find his distance, continously connecting with his jab. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo Centeno protects himself from Osuna's pressure. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo Centeno begins to be more active as Osuna begins to tire. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo both fighters start to move the tempo in the middle rounds, often exchanging combinations in the middle of the ring. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo both fighters start to move the tempo in the middle rounds, often exchanging combinations in the middle of the ring. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on and into the middle rounds against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo Osuna's bigger frame starts to overpower Centeno and eventually dropping him in the seventh round. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, starts to dominate the pace of the fight early on against Hugo Centeno Jr. during their 10 round fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 13, 2014. In this photo both fighters start to move the tempo in the middle rounds. Osuna's bigger frame starts to overpower Centeno and eventually dropping him in the seventh round. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, begins to get tired in the late rounds, never having been past the sixth round. In this photo Hugo Centeno starts to connect as Osuna begins to slow down. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, begins to get tired in the late rounds, never having been past the sixth round. In this photo Hugo Centeno starts to connect as Osuna begins to slow down. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, begins to get tired in the late rounds, never having been past the sixth round. In this photo Osuna starts to open his mouth to breathe. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, begins to get tired in the late rounds, never having been past the sixth round. In this photo Hugo Centeno starts to connect as Osuna begins to slow down. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, in red trunks, begins to get tired in the late rounds, never having been past the sixth round. In this photo Hugo Centeno connects in the 10th round sending Osuna out of the ring. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Dr. Edmund Ayoub, a ringside doctor and associate director of the California State Athletic Commission, checks Angel Osuna’s vital signs as a medical crew prepares to take him to Desert Regional Medical Center after he was injured in his Dec. 13 fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio.

(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

At 6:07 p.m., just a few minutes after he was knocked out, Osuna was rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, 24 miles away.

The next few hours — a blur of ambulance lights, emergency physicians, and medical equipment — proved critical to Osuna's survival.

Maldonado called out to Osuna, but there was no response.

"I couldn't believe it. It was really hard to see him like that," she said. "To see him so strong and then to see him so weak."

At the Richards Emergency Trauma Center at Desert Regional, Osuna was placed on a ventilator.

A digital image shows swelling in Angel Osuna’s skull from the impact during his Dec. 13 fight. Doctors have warned him he must protect his head from further injury.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

An MRI revealed a subdural hematoma on his left side — extreme swelling and bleeding of the brain.

Neurosurgeons operated on Osuna for four hours to remove the blood clot, but the swelling pushed against the surface of the skull at an alarming rate.

Doctors went in two hours later to perform an emergency craniectomy, in which they removed a portion of his skull to give his brain more room.

He had a series of strokes following the surgeries.

Family members were told to say goodbye.

At 26, in a hospital bed in the intensive care unit, Osuna began the toughest fight of his life.

A 'miraculous guy'

When Osuna was carried from the ring, his memory stayed behind.

A Mexican immigrant from Sonora with a fourth-grade education, boxing had fed a desire to escape poverty.

He had followed hundreds of young men to the Coachella Valley and to a boxing gym to slip on a pair of red gloves in a calculation that powerful and precise uppercuts and jabs would pave the way to opportunity that birth didn't provide.

His injury is a reminder to the boxing community that the sport can be unforgiving. For Osuna's family, trainers and physicians, the knockout was a "freak accident," a fluke.

After the fight, Osuna didn't wake up for nearly two weeks, responding only intermittently to commands in Spanish. He didn't speak.

Doctors and nurses turned off his ventilator each morning to test his breathing. He failed each time. The right side of his body remained paralyzed.

Then, for reasons physicians can't explain, Osuna stirred.

"He just decided one day to start breathing again," said Dr. Edmund Ayoub, one of Osuna's primary physicians.

Angel Osuna remained in the hospital nearly two months after his injury.(Photo: Courtesy of the Maldonaldo Family)

Soon after, Osuna sat up on his own — another small success.

Ayoub, who owns a family practice in Palm Springs, also is a ringside doctor and associate director of the California State Athletic Commission. He was on duty the night of Osuna's accident and was one of the first people to rush to his side.

"He's always proven to be a somewhat miraculous guy. Either that or someone is looking over him," Ayoub said. "I would've probably bet right off the bat that he would not have survived this. But he's a tough kid, as most boxers are."

Since Osuna slipped into unconsciousness in December, Maldonado has never left him.

The 22-year-old quit school to care for him full-time and has taken up a role as his teacher, his manager and, perhaps most importantly, his memory.

"I feel like she's suffered more than I have," Osuna said. "I wasn't awake for anything. She was. I thank God I have her."

Maldonado said she doesn't stop to think about what could have been.

"I just try to think positively," she said. "Things happen for a reason."

Holding on to faith

Angel Osuna remained in the hospital nearly two months after his injury. In this photo his wife, Cynthia Maldonado is photographed next to him.(Photo: Courtesy of the Maldonaldo Family)

Medical records obtained by The Desert Sun detail Osuna's progress in the weeks following his injury.

"Mr. Osuna remains critically ill, requiring ICU-level care," read one entry on Dec. 16, three days after he was admitted.

Despite doctors' grim predictions, Maldonado never lost faith that Osuna would recover, even when he didn't open his eyes or take note of her at his bedside.

She kept a rosary in his left hand. Osuna always held it tight, sometimes even searching for it when it slipped out of his hand, Maldonado said.

Doctors took note of the rosary — which they referred to as "beads" — in their logs.

After leaving the ICU, Osuna spent three days at a skilled nursing facility at Desert Regional, which provides rehabilitation services for the seriously injured or disabled.

Osuna was then transferred to the hospital's acute rehabilitation center, where he spent the bulk of his recovery doing several hours of speech, physical and occupational therapy every day.

On Jan. 23, doctors operated on Osuna to replace his cranium.

A $1 million bill

In black trunks, Julio Diaz of Indio Boxing Club against Henry Aurad during the Solo Boxeo on Telefutura at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on July 28, 2012. Diaz won the bout.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Despite the network of agencies that have surrounded Osuna for the past five months to ensure his recovery, what remains unclear is who will pay the incredible cost of Osuna's medical care.

The approximately sevenweek stay at Desert Regional left Osuna and his family with a $1 million hospital bill. Osuna didn't have any form of insurance.

Staff at the hospital helped Osuna enroll in Medi-Cal, which will cover a portion. Maldonado also hopes it will help them find long-term care for Osuna.

Promoters must have a $50,000 insurance policy on every boxer who fights in California in the event of an injury, according to Ayoub.

The Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya takes time in between fights to smile for the camera at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on Jan. 14, 2011.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

Golden Boy is a multimillion-dollar agency owned by Oscar De La Hoya. Established in 2002, De La Hoya was the first Latino to own a national boxing promotion company.

Arnold Joseph, an attorney for Golden Boy, said the promoter has tried to help Osuna and is reviewing medical bills as the agency receives them.

"Golden Boy has paid a lot unequivocally," Joseph said.

"I'm not saying that we're going to pay every single bill, but as we get them, we're evaluating them, and we're going to do what's fair for Mr. Osuna."

Joseph declined to disclose to The Desert Sun details about Golden Boy's payments to Osuna.

Golden Boy matchmaker Robert Diaz, who was present on the night Osuna was injured, said Golden Boy has kept tabs to make sure Osuna's care doesn't become a financial hardship for the family.

Diaz said he reached out to the California State Athletic Commission to see if the boxer could use a "neurological fund" — formally known as the Neurological Examination Account — handled by the commission. The commission declined his request, according to Diaz.

"They said it doesn't apply," he said. "That was hard for me to understand. When does it apply?"

Andy Foster, executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission, said the Department of Consumer Affairs' legal counsel looked into Diaz's request.

"They looked at it diligently … they researched it," he said. "The way the law was written didn't allow for that type of use. It's only used for the exams that are paid for."

The commission was established to protect the health and safety of amateur and professional boxers, kickboxers and mixed martial arts athletes. The commission, which is overseen by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, pays for its own operations using taxes, assessments and fees collected from the events it regulates.

The neurological fund, created in 1986 by the California Legislature, was established to pay for neurological exams that might detect physical conditions that could place athletes at risk for serious or permanent injury. Boxers in California are required to undergo neurological exams — along with several other exams — every 15 months or after a severe knockout.

"Instead, it has used the neurological account only to pay for state operations, such as a portion of the salary and benefits of the staff person who is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the neurological assessment calculation," the report said.

There is an estimated $680,000 in the fund, Foster said.

Boxing's mismanaged funds

Among the audit report's key findings:

• Inadequate management led to the commission's near insolvency in fiscal year 2011-2012, when the commission had a balance of only $23,000.

• The commission has not adequately tracked critical components of its operations, such as the number of regulated events, revenues and expenditures associated with events and the number of athletic inspectors assigned to each event.

• The commission could not demonstrate that inspectors had consistently performed mandated responsibilities to ensure athlete safety.

Auditors also concluded the commission has not effectively managed its Boxers' Pension Fund, which was created by the Legislature to provide basic financial security to retired boxers.

"From fiscal years 2002-03 through 2008-09, the commission failed to make any pension payments to eligible boxers or their beneficiaries, in part because it lacked a policy for locating these boxers," the report said.

The commission began distributing payments in 2009, but only 46 boxers' pensions were distributed through 2011.

Commissioners appointed by the California State Athletic Commission are always present during a break from a fight. In this photo, a commissioner observes Gerald El Gallo Negro Washington during a fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in 2012.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

About 1,800 boxers in California are enrolled in the commission's pension plan. Boxers must fight in at least 75 rounds to be eligible for payments.

Osuna, who fought only 62 rounds, is ineligible.

Foster said the agency has implemented nearly 30 of the recommendations listed in the audit since it was published in March 2013.

That includes assessing and creating regulations to effectively use the neurological account, which Foster said the commission is in the process of rolling out. The commission plans to use 30 percent of the funds to conduct a study that measures neuro-cognitive responses in boxers, he said.

Foster said the commission has focused on ensuring fighters are properly matched and that safety regulations are properly executed. Osuna's emergency evacuation took only three minutes.

Desert Regional Medical Center agreed to take on the cost of Osuna's care, according to Ayoub.

Richard Ramhoff, spokesman for Desert Regional, said the hospital's decision to front Osuna's medical bill was a rare exception. Ramhoff did not respond to numerous requests for a breakdown of the bill and how much the hospital paid, nor how much was covered by Medi-Cal, even though Osuna signed a privacy waiver to release his medical files to The Desert Sun.

Ayoub, who was Osuna's physician prior to the injury, said he hasn't charged Osuna for any of his care.

"There's nothing to charge," he said. "After this fight, had he won the fight, he would've moved up enough that he would've made a living boxing. It didn't work out that way."

Angel Osuna, a boxer who had a promising career in front of him, lost a match he was winning in the final 52 seconds of the fight. He also almost lost his life.
Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun

Path to fame cut short

Osuna was born in Culiacán, a city near the Gulf of California. As a boy, he liked to fight on neighborhood streets.

"I started boxing when I was a kid, back in Sinaloa," Osuna said.

He was asked to look after a cousin learning to box at a local gym. Begrudgingly, he went.

"I ended up liking the sport," he said. "My cousin didn't like it after a while. But I did."

Osuna moved to the Coachella Valley when he was 12. He didn't go to school because he wanted to work, he said. But he continued boxing.

He joined Lee Espinoza's gym about six years ago.

Regarded as the man who established boxing in the Coachella Valley, Espinoza has spent decades training some of the sport's biggest names. Oscar De La Hoya trained in his garage as a young boy.

"I always felt that Angel was going to be something big, something great," said Espinoza. "You couldn't hit him. He had 30-something amateur fights. He used to beat some boxers that had 80 amateur fights."

At 19, Osuna debuted as a professional with a loss in August 2007 at Omega Products International in Corona.

An increasing commitment to the sport improved his outcomes.

"He started real shaky... lose one, win, lose. It made me frustrated at that time," Espinoza said. "And then all of a sudden he said, 'You know what, I'm going to put 100 percent into it. Let's go.' And he got going."

Osuna spent most of his time at a modest boxing gym on Douma Street, next to a city park in Coachella.

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. In red Trunks Angel Osuna, of Coachella Boxing Club against Eddie Hunter of Seattle, Washington during Solo Boxeo on Telefutura at the Fantasy Springs Casino on July 28, 2012. Osuna won and now has a record of 9 wins 3 losses and 1 draw with 5 KO's. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights.
Lee Espinoza, trainer for Angel Osuna gives instructions. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. In red Trunks Angel Osuna, of Coachella Boxing Club against Eddie Hunter of Seattle, Washington during Solo Boxeo on Telefutura at the Fantasy Springs Casino on July 28, 2012. Osuna won and now has a record of 9 wins 3 losses and 1 draw with 5 KO's. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Angel Osuna, in red trunks, of Coachella Boxing Club during his fight against Raul Rodriguez at the Fantasy Springs Casino on August 12, 2011. Osuna won the fight. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. In red Trunks Angel Osuna, of Coachella Boxing Club against Eddie Hunter of Seattle, Washington during Solo Boxeo on Telefutura at the Fantasy Springs Casino on July 28, 2012. Osuna won and now has a record of 9 wins 3 losses and 1 draw with 5 KO's. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. In red Trunks Angel Osuna, of Coachella Boxing Club against Eddie Hunter of Seattle, Washington during Solo Boxeo on Telefutura at the Fantasy Springs Casino on July 28, 2012. Osuna won and now has a record of 9 wins 3 losses and 1 draw with 5 KO's. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. In red Trunks Angel Osuna, of Coachella Boxing Club against Eddie Hunter of Seattle, Washington during Solo Boxeo on Telefutura at the Fantasy Springs Casino on July 28, 2012. Osuna won and now has a record of 9 wins 3 losses and 1 draw with 5 KO's. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. In red Trunks Angel Osuna, of Coachella Boxing Club against Eddie Hunter of Seattle, Washington during Solo Boxeo on Telefutura at the Fantasy Springs Casino on July 28, 2012. Osuna won and now has a record of 9 wins 3 losses and 1 draw with 5 KO's. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. In red Trunks Angel Osuna, of Coachella Boxing Club against Eddie Hunter of Seattle, Washington during Solo Boxeo on Telefutura at the Fantasy Springs Casino on July 28, 2012. Osuna won and now has a record of 9 wins 3 losses and 1 draw with 5 KO's. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, of Coachella Boxing Club knocks down Eddie Hunter of Seattle, Washington during Solo Boxeo on Telefutura at the Fantasy Springs Casino on July 28, 2012. Osuna won and is has now a record of 9 wins 3 losses and 1 draw with 5 KO's. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Coachella Boxing Club's Angel Osuna in red trunks versus Yosmani Abreu of Las Vegas, Nevada during the ShoBox The New Generation at Fantasy Springs Casino on Friday August 24, 2012. Osuna won. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Coachella Boxing Club's Angel Osuna in red trunks versus Yosmani Abreu of Las Vegas, Nevada during the ShoBox The New Generation at Fantasy Springs Casino on Friday August 24, 2012. Osuna won. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Coachella Boxing Club's Angel Osuna in red trunks versus Yosmani Abreu of Las Vegas, Nevada during the ShoBox The New Generation at Fantasy Springs Casino on Friday August 24, 2012. Osuna won. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Coachella Boxing Club's Angel Osuna in red trunks versus Yosmani Abreu of Las Vegas, Nevada during the ShoBox The New Generation at Fantasy Springs Casino on Friday August 24, 2012. Osuna won. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Coachella Boxing Club's Angel Osuna in red trunks versus Yosmani Abreu of Las Vegas, Nevada during the ShoBox The New Generation at Fantasy Springs Casino on Friday August 24, 2012. Osuna won. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Coachella Boxing Club's Angel Osuna in red trunks versus Yosmani Abreu of Las Vegas, Nevada during the ShoBox The New Generation at Fantasy Springs Casino on Friday August 24, 2012. Osuna won. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna had a seven-year career as a professional boxer. He was on the verge of acquiring a contract with Golden Boy but with 52 seconds left in the 10th and last round of a fight versus Hugo Centeno, and winning the fight on all three judges cards, Osuna suffered a KO and nearly lost his life do to a major brain injury. Below are the original captions of the fights. Coachella Boxing Club's Angel Osuna in red trunks versus Yosmani Abreu of Las Vegas, Nevada during the ShoBox The New Generation at Fantasy Springs Casino on Friday August 24, 2012. Osuna won. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

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On most training days, Osuna woke up at 5 a.m., ran 10 miles, headed to work at Fred Rock Pool Construction and then drove to the boxing gym at 5 p.m. after his shift. He worked out in the gym for three to four hours.

After boxing professionally for seven years without a contract, Osuna reached a career turning point.

"He had told me that if he didn't land anything soon, that he would retire," Maldonado said.

The couple wanted to buy a home, maybe open a small restaurant in Coachella.

The bout against Centeno was critical.

For the first time, Osuna was given a dressing room to prep for his fight, a perk only the casino's most promising boxers enjoyed.

"We knew, everybody knew that after this fight, he was going places," Espinoza said.

Osuna was paid $8,000 for the fight.

Angel Osuna had a strong following. The crowd cheered him on and many wore his trademark red shirts to many of his fights. In this photo a father hands him his child after a fight in 2012.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

Osuna always sold a lot of tickets at Fantasy Springs. Golden Boy's Diaz said Osuna was an exciting fighter who brought a lot of fans to the casino.

"You knew who Angel's fans were because they were always in red T-shirts. That's something that always attracts you," he said. "The excitement has a lot to do with the fans."

Diaz said the victory would've landed Osuna a five-year contract, guaranteeing him a certain number of fights every year.

"I had told Lee (Espinoza), 'I'll have a contract ready for him and signed.' I think that was a motivating factor for Angel," he said. "It would've been more than he had been making without a doubt."

Boxing and brain injuries

Constant jolts to the head leave athletes in combative sports susceptible to traumatic brain injuries, which disrupt normal function. An estimated 2.5 million traumatic brain injuries occurred in 2010, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A pioneering study by the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Health in Las Vegas is examining whether MRIs or other tests can identify early signs of brain injury in patients exposed to head trauma.

The study, now in its third year, tracks active and retired professional fighters — boxers, mixed martial arts fighters and football players — through a series of tests, diagnoses and treatment. An estimated 400 active and retired athletes have enrolled in the study, which has a goal of tracking 625.

Preliminary results have shown that exposure to head trauma is linked to brain volume and cognitive performance.

A study published in March by the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that knockouts in mixed martial arts occur more frequently than in other contact sports. About one-third of professional mixed martial arts matches end in knockout or technical knockout, leaving these athletes more susceptible to traumatic brain injuries.

In October, junior featherweight Francisco "Frankie" Leal died from a brain injury suffered in a bout in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Leal, who trained in the Coachella Valley for a short time with the help of Marcos Caballero, suffered a knockout loss during the eighth round against Raul Hirales.

Leal collapsed in the ring. He was put on a stretcher and slipped into a coma. Three days later, he died in a hospital in San Diego.

Though he wasn't in Leal's corner for the fight, the death shook Caballero.

"I cried and I think about my life, my kids because I got my kids into this," Caballero said. "It's terrible. It's a terrible loss. A young man who was 26."

In this October 2013 file video, Marcos Caballero speaks about the death of Francisco Leal, whom he trained out of Coachella Boxing Club.
Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun

"Boxing is becoming more of a safety thing now. Every fight is a risky fight. You can't underestimate anybody," said Joel Diaz, who trains former WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley of Cathedral City. "When accidents like this happen, it makes us more aware."

Julio Diaz looks over to his wife and kids as he opts to not continue after a rib injury during his fight against Keith Thurman for the WBA Welterweight title at StubHub Center in Carson on April 26, 2014.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

Diaz, along with brothers Julio and Antonio Diaz, established the Coachella Valley as a premiere training ground for boxing talent. All three fought for world titles.

Julio Diaz, who won the IBF lightweight title in 2004, was the first to win a major world title.

"The sport is very dangerous. There's no way around it," said Julio Diaz, the youngest of the three.

Julio, who was trained by Joel, announced his retirement last month after a loss to WBA interim welterweight champion Keith Thurman. His corner stopped the fight due to a rib injury.

"One punch is lights out," he said just days before the fight. "When you're about to walk in, it makes you think, 'Is it worth it at the end of the day?'"

"We pay the ultimate price with our body and our health."

Pushing physical limits

One of the primary components of any boxing match is the significant amount of weight that fighters lose prior to a weigh-in, which takes place the day before a bout.

For most fighters, that means extreme dehydration and up to 25 pounds in weight loss in 24 hours.

"A lot of fighters, they leave it (weight loss) to the last minute and that causes dehydration," Joel Diaz said. "Most of the time, severe trauma like the type Angel went through is caused by extreme dehydration."

Ayoub, who works about 50 matches a year as a ringside physician, said extreme weight loss before a weigh-in is common. Boxers regain the weight prior to a match to give them an advantage.

In the month before his bout against Centeno, Osuna lost a little more than a pound, according to Ayoub.

"He was a pretty healthy kid … it was just a fluke," he said.

Ayoub is a board member with the Association of Ringside Physicians, an international organization created to develop medical guidelines to ensure the safety of professional boxers and mixed martial arts athletes. He's pushing the organization to require boxers to weigh in on the same day of their fights.

Face to face again

At a fundraiser for Osuna on April 2, about 150 friends, family and members of the boxing community gathered at the Lit Ultra lounge at Fantasy Springs.

Some wore red shirts that read, "Team Osuna," the same shirts they wore to all of Osuna's fights.

Centeno was among the crowd.

At left, Angel Osuna and Hugo Centeno Jr. meet at Osuna's fundraiser for the first time since their Dec. 13, 2013 fight.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

The two fighters embraced and posed before flashes of cameras.

The June 6 main event at Fantasy Springs features Centeno in a bout with Domonique Dalton.

Injuries are a part of the sport, Centeno said.

"It's something that we know. Sometimes there's no second chance," he said. "I didn't do this on purpose."

As the rounds wound down in his match with Osuna, Centeno knew he needed a knockout.

"I just bit down on my mouthpiece. I told myself I couldn't lose," he said. "Your objective is to kill in a fight, but you don't actually mean it."

Paul Ryan, general manager and COO at Fantasy Springs, presented Osuna with a check for $10,000 on behalf of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians.

"It was an important fight for all of us," Ryan said in brief remarks. "God knows why things happen. … We don't know."

Angel Osuna vs. Hugo Centeno Jr.

Angel Osuna of Coachella was winning by a large margin on all three judges' cards during his Dec. 13, 2013, fight against Hugo Centeno Jr. of Oxnard at the Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio. Here are the defining moments of the fight.

12/13/2013
5:10 p.m.

12/13/2013
5:15 p.m.

12/13/2013
5:20 p.m.

12/13/2013
5:25 p.m.

12/13/2013
5:30 p.m.

12/13/2013
5:35 p.m.

12/13/2013
5:40 p.m.

12/13/2013
5:45 p.m.

12/13/2013
5:50 p.m.

12/13/2013
5:55 p.m.

12/13/2013
6 p.m.

12/13/2013
6:05 p.m.

5:10 p.m.

Fight begins

The competitive bout between Angel Osuna of Coachella and Hugo Centeno Jr. of Oxnard began at about 5:10 p.m. at the Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio. There were about 1,300 fans in attendance.

approximately 5:49 p.m.

Round 7

Osuna knocks Centeno down, giving him a 10-8 round.

approximately 5:55 p.m.

Round 8 and 9

Osuna appears visibly tired. He loses the 9th round.

approximately 6 p.m.

Round 10

Osuna was knocked out by a punch thrown by Centeno with just 52 seconds left in the match. The knockout caused him to fall out of the ring.

6:04 p.m.

Osuna secured

The medical emergency team secured Osuna onto a gurney.

6:07 p.m.

Osuna transported

Osuna was transported 24 miles to Desert Regional Medical Center.

Source: California State Athletic Commission Investigative Report

Photos: Omar Ornelas and Desert Sun file

The following day, Osuna stepped into the Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs for the "Night of the Heavyweights" event, which featured nine bouts.

In his first appearance at a match since nearly dying, Osuna and Maldonado sat in the VIP section, just feet from where Osuna crashed onto the timekeeper's table.

Angel Osuna and his wife are greeted by Dr. Edmund Ayoub at the same venue where Osuna nearly lost his life four months prior. Ayoub — the ringside doctor — quickly recognized that Osuna had suffered a major brain injury during his Dec. 13 fight and ordered that he be rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, according to the California Athletic Commission’s investigation.

(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

Osuna watched quietly, expressionless. His left leg never stopped shaking.

"I felt so happy," he said later. "I felt really happy to know that I had done that at one point."

Maldonado whispered in his ear as they looked on.

"He gets all excited watching the fights," Maldonado said. "He wants to be out there."

Lonely road to recovery

Osuna and his mother-in-law, Martha Verduzco, sat at their kitchen table on a late April morning.

The two chatted and smiled over eggs, tortillas and coffee. They talked about Timothy Bradley's recent loss to the great Philippines champion Manny Pacquiao.

"He fought well," Osuna said of Bradley, who struggled early in the bout with a strained calf. "I think his injury is what made him lose."

Though Osuna's physical and mental conditions have improved, he struggles with short-term memory and there are gaps in his recall of older events.

Osuna forgets what he did a few days — sometimes a few hours — ago. He doesn't remember any of his fights.

Sporadically, Osuna remembers training at the Coachella Boxing Club. About two weeks ago, he mimicked jabs and hooks and talked about his former trainer.

But those moments are rare.

Despite immediate, round-the-clock care at Desert Regional and the weeks of treatment that followed his collapse, Osuna and Maldonado are now on their own tending to his recovery inside a rental home on Shady Lane.

Angel Osuna is helped by wife Cynthia Maldonado as he steps down from a boxing ring at the boxing club where he honed his skills. Osuna wears a helmet to protect his head during his workouts. Maldonado has constantly been at his side since his brain injury.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

Osuna's therapy stopped in February when he left the Acute Rehabilitation Center.

Maldonado keeps a manila folder with Osuna's homework.

A book of crossword puzzles floats around on the couch.

To exercise his brain, Maldonado helps Osuna with math and grammar worksheets — downloaded from the local library's website.

But she senses Osuna is bored with the material.

No one monitors Osuna's neurological progress or his mental acuity. There are no therapists to help him recover memories that have gone dark inside his brain.

"Basically, at this point he's on his own," said Dr. Silvio Hoshek, a neurosurgeon with the Desert Regional Institute of Clinical Orthopedics and Neurosciences.

Hoshek oversees the team that operated on Osuna.

It's common for patients to stop going to therapy a few months after a traumatic brain injury, Hoshek said. A patient's follow-through often depends on the insurance plan.

Earlier this month, Osuna visited Hoshek and Ayoub. It was his last check-up with Hoshek, though the neurosurgeon said Osuna has the option to return for another check-up in three months.

A nurse practitioner asked Osuna to perform a series of movements. He stretched his arms out and brought his index finger to his nose. He walked across the small examination room.

"He's a young person. He has resilience," Hoshek said. "And I guess we could say it's a big miracle."

The doctors noted that Osuna is no longer taking any sort of medication or vitamins.

Maldonado asked Hoshek how active Osuna can be.

He can do anything, Hoshek said, as long as there is no potential for a blow to the head, such as soccer or boxing.

"He needs to protect his head," he said.

Lost memories

On a hot day in April, Osuna looked at pictures of his fights for the first time since his injury. His eyes were fixed on the computer screen as the images flashed by.

There he was raising up his glove in triumph. Standing alongside coach Espinoza. Holding up a child, a small boxing fan.

Osuna sat in a chair at the kitchen table, silent, motionless.

He asked for the slide show to be played again.

Osuna took long, heavy breaths, stopping every so often to rub his eyes, as if exhausted. His shoulders slumped.

"How do you feel?" Maldonado asked.

Osuna didn't respond, his eyes focused on the screen.

"How do you feel … OK?" she said.

Osuna nodded.

Angel Osuna is filled with emotion after photographs of his fights are shown to him at his home. Osuna has accepted that he will never fight again as a professional boxer.(Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun)

His breathing got longer, heavier.

"I can't believe that I used to do that ... and that I can't do it anymore," he finally said. "I can't believe what I was able to accomplish … who I used to be."

He asked to see the pictures again.

Three weeks later, Osuna was asked about the photographs.

He couldn't remember them.

Tatiana Sanchez is a reporter for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at (760) 778-6443, by email at tatiana.sanchez@desertsun.com or on Twitter @TatianaYSanchez.

Angel Osuna pressures Hugo Centeno during their fight on Dec. 13. Osuna, who was winning on all three judgesÕ cards by a large margin, was knocked out in the final round. He was rushed to the hospital, where he remained for nearly two months for a major brain injury. Osuna had part of his skull removed to release pressure on his brain and he had several strokes while in the hospital. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Dr. Edmund Ayoub, a ringside doctor and associate director of the California State Athletic Commission, checks Angel OsunaÕs vital signs as a medical crew prepares to take him to Desert Regional Medical Center after he was injured in his Dec. 13 fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

A digital image shows swelling in Angel OsunaÕs skull from the impact during his Dec. 13 fight. Doctors have warned him he must protect his head from further injury. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna is helped by wife Cynthia Maldonado as he steps down from a boxing ring at the boxing club where he honed his skills. Osuna wears a helmet to protect his head during his workouts. Maldonado has constantly been at his side since his brain injury. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna is filled with emotion after photographs of his fights are shown to him at his home. Osuna has accepted that he will never fight again as a professional boxer. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna and his wife are greeted by Dr. Edmund Ayoub at the same venue where Osuna nearly lost his life four months prior. Ayoub Ñ the ringside doctor Ñ quickly recognized that Osuna had suffered a major brain injury during his Dec. 13 fight and ordered that he be rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, according to the California State Athletic CommissionÕs investigation. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna, a surgery scar clearly visible on his head, hits a heavy bag at the Coachella Boxing Club. Osuna has returned to the gym for exercise that he feels helps his recovery. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

Angel Osuna writes his name and the date as part of a morning ritual to help him regain his memory. He canÕt remember any of his professional fights in the past seven years. He also suffers from short-term memory loss. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/ The Desert Sun)

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Brain injuries in sports

Constant jolts to the head leave athletes in combative sports susceptible to traumatic brain injuries, which disrupt normal function. An estimated 2.5 million traumatic brain injuries occurred in 2010, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those who survive these injuries can face permanent disabilities, such as Coachella boxer Angel Osuna.